Download: Sidewinder EP
Nettwerk 6322
5:53 Sidewinder (remix)
3:26 Glassblower (remix)
4:34 Base Metal (remix)
3:08 Chalice
5:43 Shemaesin
3:27 Im5
4:45 Attalal (remix by Haujobb)
1:07 Lenge T'agn
Yet another completely freaked out, dislocated and otherwise challenging
slab o' aluminum from everyone's favorite ex-Skinny Puppy and ex-Zoviet
France wackos. Actually, this one is MUCH easier to deal with than
"Furnace" - there's still plenty of bizarre noises, but they are arranged
in a much more accessible rhythmic context. The disc opens with
"Sidewinder", a lovely melodic synth line hanging over a solid dance
groove. After one minute, however, it devolves into the most intense slow
hip hop groove with fragments of distorted sound echoing over the top and
into oblivion. "Glassblower" is almost verging on techno with a solid
4-on-the-floor the whole way (although a super fresh Meat Beat-esque drum
loop overlays it halfway through). There are vocals in there somewhere but
they're barely comprehensible through the maze of effects. "Base Metal"
has the vocals a little more to the fore, but they keep getting snatched
and turned into a gorgeous vocoder melody. How do they do it???
"Shemaesin" is a noisy opus, imagine Black Dog rhythms taken and done
grievous harm in a back alley by a gang of psychopaths. And on it goes.
Every song a winner.
I really like this disc - too bad it's so short. This is what I was hoping
for from Download but didn't quite get on "Furnace". Anyway, it rules. Oh
yes. Innovation is still alive in the electronic arena (and funny how the
ones who used to bring it to you are, um, still bringing it to you,
actually...)
--
Name: Jon
Email: jsd@cyborganic.com
Web:
http://www.cyborganic.com/bass-kittens/